Trae Porter and Leonard’s Legacy ($8.40) were determined to call the shots in Thursday night’s (April 20) $14,000 Preferred Pace at Rosecroft.
Leaving from post seven in :25.2, Porter shook off an early charge from Trip Hammer and guided the field through fractions of :53.1 and 1:22.1, holding off a first over bid by Stag Party and a late closing rush from Fantastic Voyage in 1:51.
It was one of three wins on the card for trainer Basil Sapienza and the 6-year-old son of Tobago Cays is owned by breeder Leonard Hubbard. It was the fifth win of the year in 14 starts for Leonard’s Legacy.
It’s now been seven weeks since a horse not named Leonard’s Legacy, Stag Party or Fantastic Voyage has won the Preferred.
In the $12,000 Open I division, Techtopia Hanover ($7.80) picked up his third win of the year as he wired the field in 1:52.4 for driver Russell Foster who co-owns the 6-year-old gelding by Artspeak with Arty Foster III. Megan Foster trains.
Russell Foster won four times on the card including a victory with Smooth Rocket, his top contender in the upcoming 3-year-old Maryland Sires Stakes, that gave his wife Megan a training double.
Jared Moyer scored with Babes All In, another top contender in the upcoming sophomore pacing category, as he shook off an awkward start at the gate. The son of Rusty’s All In briefly hesitated when the gate unfolded, but rallied from eighth with a breathtaking backside brush to pull away to a four length win.
Jason Thompson pulled into the winner’s circle three times, while Porter won twice.
Trainer Michael Hall won twice to push his meet-leading total to 38 in 117 starts. Hall’s starters have been in the money an impressive 72 percent at the meet.
Jonathan Roberts garnered his 48th win at the meet to lead the standings with seven racing nights remaining. Russell Foster is second with 41 and Johnathan Ahle third with 40. Roberts and Foster have been in the money an impressive 51 percent and 50 percent, respectively, during the meet. Ahle, driving in his first full meet at Rosecroft, has been in the money 45 percent of the time while John Wagner is at 42 percent.
